David Ige

“Hannemann is the experienced executive, the man who ran Honolulu and has a track record to prove it.”

CivilBeat

For the first time, Hannemann revealed a new idea. He proposed giving Kakaako back to the City. He expanded on the proposal after the forum, saying “I think with the concerns and perception and reality of luxurious high rises being built at the expense of affordable housing, give it back to the City for planning purposes because there’s a big puka now in all the planning decisions of the City and that’s Kakaako because they’re exempted from that.”

One of the City’s requirements is that 30 percent of developments be “affordable housing.’

Hawaii News Now

Hannemann went on to say that the redevelopment agency Hawaii Community Development Authority should put effort into building a racetrack in Kalaeloa since Oahu doesn’t have one.

KITV

Former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann pushed to get the divisive rail project off the ground, but says he took it to a vote like he would have done with same sex marriage.

The Independent Party candidate said, “I was okay when people said take it to ballot and it went and I said if it’s voted down, I will end the project and return every dollar back to the state and we will move on.”

As we predicted, the early pre-primary polls were very misleading. Political experts are now predicting that the three candidates will evenly divide the voters, and force a close examination of the candidate’s qualifications, track record and positions on key issues.

With primary over, attention focused on three-way governor’s race

Excerpts from HawaiiNewsNow – Rick Daysog

• With the primary election over, it’s now a three-way race for governor. And some experts believe the race is closer than recent polls suggest.

• According to political analyst Dan Boylan, “I could see all three candidates pulling a reasonable vote, a 30 percent vote.”

• Hannemann — who was last in and did little advertising before the primary — said his campaign is out to win the race, not play the role of spoiler.

• The election is still two-and-a half months away — plenty of time for the candidates to get the word out.

In The Washington Post’s rundown of the nations top 15 gubernatorial races they call the competitive Hawaii contest a “surprise.” Here’s some excerpts:

In Hawaii, Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) remains unpopular and is dealing with a primary challenger. If he wins the Democratic nomination, his reward will be a tough general election campaign in which he will have to contend with not only former lieutenant governor Duke Aiona (R), but former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann, who is running as an independent. Hannemann was Abercrombie’s Democratic opponent in 2010, so he has the ability to pull votes away from the governor.

Abercrombie is not a sure bet to make the general election. He faces state Sen. David Ige (D). Abercrombie has a lot more money than Ige, but he’s also battling lingering unpopularity.